Farah Khan

Actress Anchor

Summary

Biography

Farah Khan Kunder (née Khan; born 9 January 1965) is an Indian film director, choreographer, dancer, writer, producer, and actress who works primarily in Hindi cinema. As a film director, Khan made her debut with the commercially successful Main Hoon Na (2004), followed by Om Shanti Om (2007), both of which earned her nominations for the Filmfare Award for Best Director. She later directed Tees Maar Khan (2010) and the ensemble heist musical Happy New Year (2014). She has choreographed more than a hundred songs in over 80 films, and has won the National Film Award for Best Choreography along with seven Filmfare Awards. Khan has also worked in Tamil cinema and international projects, including Monsoon Wedding (2001), Bombay Dreams (2002), Vanity Fair (2004), Marigold: An Adventure in India (2007), the Chinese film Perhaps Love (2005), and Kung Fu Yoga (2017). Her work has earned her nominations at the Tony Awards and the Golden Horse Awards. Early life and personal life Farah Khan was born on 9 January 1965. Her father, Kamran Khan, was a stuntman-turned-filmmaker. Her mother, Menaka Irani, was the sister of former child actors Honey Irani and Daisy Irani. Farah is thus a first cousin of film personalities Farhan Akhtar and Zoya Akhtar (children of Honey Irani). She has one brother, Sajid Khan, who is a comedian, actor and film director. Farah Khan married Shirish Kunder, the editor of directorial debut Main Hoon Na (2004), on 9 December 2004. They have since worked together on each other's films, such as Jaan-E-Mann (2006), Om Shanti Om (2007), and Tees Maar Khan (2010). Khan gave birth to triplets — one son and two daughters — in 2008 through in vitro fertilisation. Career Choreography career Khan was studying sociology in St. Xavier's College, Bombay when the music video of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" was released. According to Khan, she was so inspired by the song, that although she hadn't danced before that, it soon became her vocation. She learned to dance on her own, and set up a dance group. When the choreographer Saroj Khan walked out of the film Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992), Khan took over. This was followed by her role in choreographing numerous iconic dance numbers over the years. She met actor Shahrukh Khan on the sets of Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (1994) and the two have since become good friends and began their collaborative journey. She is the recipient of seven Filmfare Awards for Best Choreography. In 2013, she also choreographed "Jumping Jhapak", the official anthem for 2013 Indian Premier League. Khan also collaborated on several international projects such as Monsoon Wedding (2001), Bombay Dreams (2002) and Vanity Fair (2004), receiving a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Choreography for Bombay Dreams, alongside Anthony van Laast. Khan trained Colombian pop star Shakira for a Bollywood version of her song "Hips Don't Lie" for the MTV Video Music Awards on 31 August 2006. Khan has also choreographed Kylie Minogue for the song "Chiggy Wiggy" in the 2009 film Blue. Directorial debut and breakthrough (2004–2007) In 2004, Khan ventured into direction with the masala film Main Hoon Na (2004), starring Shahrukh Khan and Sushmita Sen in lead roles, produced by Red Chillies Entertainment. The film received positive reviews upon release, and emerged as the second highest-grossing Indian film of the year, only surpassed by another Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Veer-Zaara. It earned Khan her first nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Director, thus becoming the second female director to be nominated for the award. She followed it up with the reincarnation melodrama Om Shanti Om (2007), again starring Shahrukh Khan, alongside debutante Deepika Padukone in lead roles. The film received positive reviews from critics upon release, and emerged as the highest-grossing Hindi film of the year, in addition to becoming the highest-grossing Indian film ever at the time of its release. The film earned Khan her second nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Director, thus becoming the first female director to be nominated for the award twice. Challenges, acting debut and directorial resurgence (2010–present) Her next directorial venture was the comedy Tees Maar Khan, starring Akshay Kumar, Akshaye Khanna and Katrina Kaif in the lead roles. Despite hype, the film was panned by critics upon release, but emerged as a modest commercial success at the box-office. Primarily remembered for Kaif's iconic dance number "Sheila Ki Jawani", also choreographed by Khan, it later gained cult status and is now vastly remembered for Khanna's performance. She then made her acting debut alongside Boman Irani in the romantic comedy Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi (2012), directed by Bela Bhansali Sehgal, the sister of director Sanjay Leela Bhansali. The film received mixed-to-positive reviews upon release, but emerged as a commercial failure at the box-office. Her next directorial venture was the dance heist comedy Happy New Year (2014), reteaming with Shahrukh Khan and Padukone 7 years after Om Shanti Om. She had initially announced to direct the film in 2005 and it was supposed to be Padukone's Hindi film debut, but was shelved due to multiple delays and cast changes that occurred over a number of years. The project was again reported as being in the works as of 2012. Upon release, the film received mixed reviews from critics, but emerged as the second highest-grossing Indian film of the year. In April 2024, Khan started posting cooking vlogs featuring her cook Dilip, which have since become widely popular. She has three million subscribers on her YouTube channel. Television and production career She hosted the celebrity chat show Tere Mere Beach Mein and was a judge on the reality television series Indian Idol – first and second season, Jo Jeeta Wohi Super Star, Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega and Dance India Dance Li'l Masters. She also judged dance reality show Just Dance alongside Hrithik Roshan and Vaibhavi Merchant on Star Plus. In 2015, Khan replaced Salman Khan and hosted the reality show Bigg Boss Halla Bol, the spin-off of Bigg Boss season 8. Khan and her husband have started a production company called "Three's Company" named in honor of their triplets. Filmography Film Choreography Television Accolades See also Indian Women in Dance Further reading Kabir, Nasreen Munni (2009). Farah Khan. Zubaan. References External links Farah Khan at IMDb Farah Khan at Bollywood Hungama Farah Khan on X